A 17-month-old boy was struck and seriously injured in a Los Angeles hit-and-run pedestrian accident the night of June 10, 2009, the Los Angeles Daily News reports. Los Angeles police officials say the pedestrian accident occurred in the 21100 block of Saticoy Street near Variel Avenue. The toddler’s father, Edgar Rencinos, was apparently pushing his son in a stroller alongside the boy’s mother when the car accident occurred. Rencinos says he had the green light to cross the street. The family started walking across the street when a black Lincoln Town Car made a left turn and struck Edgar and the stroller.
Both the father and infant were thrown 25 feet into the air before they came crashing down on the ground. The driver did not stop and fled the scene of the car accident. The toddler, whose name has not been released, suffered serious injuries and was airlifted to Children’s Hospital, Los Angeles. Rencinos and the boy’s mother were not seriously hurt.
The suspect vehicle is descried as a black 1990s sedan. Rencinos said the Town Car had the letters “TCP” on the bumper, which means it could have been a limo driver. If you have information about this hit-and-run pedestrian accident, please contact LAPD investigators at 1-877-5273-247.
First of all, I’m extremely relieved that this little boy did not suffer catastrophic or fatal injuries. More current news reports suggest that the child is in stable condition. I hope and pray that he makes a quick and complete recovery. Please keep this family in your prayers.
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2007 traffic accident statistics there were 90 fatalities and 2,690 injuries reported in the city of Los Angeles as a result of pedestrian accidents. In Los Angeles County, 210 fatalities and 5,095 injuries were reported in 2007 that involved pedestrian accidents.
In this particular case, based on this news report, it appears that the toddler and his family were crossing the street at an intersection and they had a green light. They had the right-of-way. California Vehicle Code section 21950 states that a motorist is required to yield right-of-way to pedestrians who are crossing at an intersection–be it a marked or unmarked crosswalk. Not only did this driver break that law, but he also fled the accident scene. Leaving the scene of an accident is a serious offense. According to the California Vehicle Code Section 20001 (a): “The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to a person, other than himself or herself, or in the death of a person shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident.”
If this hit-and-run driver was on the job working for a limo company or any other employer, not only could the driver but, also his employer, be held liable for the accident and injuries sustained by the child. The Rencinos family could be entitled to receive compensation for personal injuries, medical expenses, emotional distress and other related expenses. The Rencinos family would be well-advised to retain the services of reputed Los Angeles pedestrian accident attorneys who are particularly experienced in dealing with hit-and-run victim cases.